Cluff Family Reunion/Temple Sealing

"I Don't Feel 5-I feel weird"

Last night Will went to bed sooooo excited. He must have left his bed 5 times before finally settling down and going to sleep-very unusual for him-he often asks to go to bed at night! He was as excited as if it were Christmas Eve! When he woke up (very early I might add), he came in our room and said "Am I 5 now? I don't feel 5-I feel weird." Bob checked his muscles and measured him from head to foot and told him he was a little stronger and a little taller so he must be 5. That did it for Will and he said, "well, I guess I am 5 then." And when I took Will to school he told me "I am so 5...I hate the number 4 now."

I spotlighted Will at school and he LOVED that-everything about HIM! His birthday party was right after school at Backyard Adventures (playground equipment inside-thank goodness because it was freezing outside) and he invited his school class and primary class. For William, it was the best day ever. For me, it was chaos-there were twenty 4-5 year olds! I am glad I'm not the type of mom who throws a b-day party every year. This was Will's first b-day party with friends and his next one will be when he's 8-I think I'll let him invite 8 friends! And can I just say how funny these kids were: one little boy thought each child there should open up the present they brought Will (I'm thinking to myself, which one would Will open?, this same little boy INSISTED on having a certain peice of cake and when he didn't get it (because it was in the dead center of this giant cake), you'd have thought the world was at an end. And almost all the children wanted to take the toys out of the package and play with them right there. Oh, and the drama from some of the little girls...reminds me of another little girl I know that lives right here with me! I must say though, Maddie was a huge help with all those children, she organized games and showed them to the bathroom and was basically a little party planner...I've taught her well. :D

The theme for Will's party was BYU Cougars! (of course). I made cute invitations, my friend made an amazing cake and cookies for the treat bags.

yummy sugar cookies!

this cake was amazing!


friends...

I realized at the end of the song I was singing...YIKES! Just ignore that!

It was a memorable day...I'm glad we were able to give Will such a special birthday-one he will always remember. And I'm glad Grandma and Daddy were there to help.

Almost 5!

We celebrated Will's 5th Birthday with the family today after General Conference. He will turn 5 on April 9th. For the past couple of weeks, Will has been waking up in the morning and his first words are "is today my birthday?" Yesterday I told him we would be having his little family birthday party tomorrow and he has been so excited he could hardly wait. And we kept making him wait until after Conference was over. He just couldn't keep his hands off his gifts...

Grandma and Grandpa gave him a Leapster which he loves and we gave him a bike! Larry, DJ, and Shiely were here to celebrate with us too! On Wednesday, Will is having his first birthday party with friends at Backyard Adventures! He can't stop talking about it.

Will with his cake that I made...I'll be buying the next one!

Opening the Leapster from Grandma and Grandpa

He obviously didn't know how to use the brakes (or turn the thing) and shortly after this, he tried to take a sharp turn and had his first fall and said "I hate that bike and I'm never getting on it again!"


His new bike!

Maddie on her scooter! I wish I had one of these!

He did get back on the bike and we couldn't get him off of it...he asked if he could keep riding it even during bedtime! (he figured out the braking!) Bob says we're taking off the training wheels in a few days! YIKES!

Family Home Evening

We have come to really look forward to Monday nights and Family Home Evening! Maddie and William have their "Family Home Evening" seats (they sit in the same place each week). And they both really enjoy the lesson and activity. For me, the best is when one of the children give the lesson-especially Maddie. She is really good at it!

Last week, Maddie gave our lesson about Easter and resurrection. She taught the lesson with the plastic eggs each one containing something regarding the crucifixtion and resurrection of Christ-the last egg is empty representing the empty tomb. Each egg also contained a scripture which we all took turns reading, even William. William loved this lesson and it was perfect for him. He was very curious about the death and resurrection of Jesus. And we could feel the spirit so strong...we took the opportunity to bear our testimonies. William bore a sweet and simple testimony of Jesus and our prophet. And Maddie shared her sweet testimony too. Maddie is at the age where she can truly bear her testimony herself and I can feel that she knows what she is saying is real and that she believes. My heart swells as her mother to know that she has a testimony and that she loves Jesus. What more could I desire as a parent?

I normally don't take pictures during FHE, but these were too sweet to pass up!

The object lesson

Go Green!

Not because of global warming, but because it is ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

For St. Patrick's Day we had a green dinner-green clover-shaped pancakes, green buttermilk syrup, green fruit dip (with strawberries :O) and green drink (milk, lemonade, or water-your choice). Maddie and Wills loved this! (especially Will as he thinks there are real leprechauns roaming around that can turn your hair green). No photos of the pancakes because I had turned my camera onto manual focus and forgot...something our teacher warned us about-dangit!

Will was so excited for this holiday...at school they went on a treasure hunt for a pot of gold (rolos) and saw leprechaun footprints-and of course, he wore green! But his teachers told him no pinching at school, you can do that at home-thanks alot (I didn't wear green)!


BUTTERMILK SYRUP RECIPE
1 c butter
1 c sugar
1 c buttermilk (or 1 c milk + 1 T vinegar-let sit for about 5 min...voila...buttermilk)

Bring the first three ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat and add:

1 t vanilla
1/2 t baking soda

Stir to combine and then lick the spoon :O!

If you haven't tried this...you're missing out! It is now the only syrup we will eat.